I ran my first half marathon on Sunday (Cleveland Rite Aid). Wasn't sure what to expect, but I had fun. I had never raced longer than 5 miles before. Ran a 1:38 with the temperature a little higher than I was prepared for, so I slowed down considerably by the end. I am going to try for less than 1:30 this year, as I get a little more practice with the race. My next planned one is October 7th, Towpath Half Marathon, but I am looking for one or two in between now and then.

Well, 1:32:20 for 22nd overall is as good as I could do today. To be honest, that was my predicted time, and is still another 2 mins off my recent best, so not goal, but fairly happy. I didn't think I was going to be able to run before the start as I had dreadful back pain for a couple of days, but once I got running, I hardly gave it a thought!

This goal is going to have to wait for a couple of months now, as the next goal race is a return to half-ironman triathlon on Aug. 5th.

Johnny Miles in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia is a great race, highly recommended. My only quibble was the lack of distance markers - like none! In a way it was quite nice, as I didn't look at my watch at all, and ran entirely on feel.

Anybody else? Surely there's more of you out there...can't let those sub 20 5k peeps have all the fun....and some of you sub 20 5k seekin' peeps are probably in this sub 90 target range too?

Hi all,

I hit my sub 20-5k a few weeks back (first in 10 yrs!), and have been wrestling with what to tackle next. I was thinking sub-90 would be my goal for next year, but I'm feeling a little ambitious and may add the goal for this year. I've run 3 HM before, best being 1:37 about 6 yrs ago. Ran 1:42 last year on relatively short training.

It only steps up the mileage a little from where I am now, but seems to have better definition to the workouts. There arent many "canned" plans I've found on line that are targeted for sub-90 (most seem to top out at 4 days/30mi per week).

Also open to any suggestions for a fall half in the NJ/NY area. (Currently considering Newport/Liberty (end sept) or Princeton (Nov).)

I hit my sub 20-5k a few weeks back (first in 10 yrs!), and have been wrestling with what to tackle next. I was thinking sub-90 would be my goal for next year, but I'm feeling a little ambitious and may add the goal for this year. I've run 3 HM before, best being 1:37 about 6 yrs ago. Ran 1:42 last year on relatively short training.

It only steps up the mileage a little from where I am now, but seems to have better definition to the workouts. There arent many "canned" plans I've found on line that are targeted for sub-90 (most seem to top out at 4 days/30mi per week).

Also open to any suggestions for a fall half in the NJ/NY area. (Currently considering Newport/Liberty (end sept) or Princeton (Nov).)

Thanks in advance for any advice/thoughts.

No plan except one written for you is targeted for any particular time goal.

The plan looks like it has the basic elements of any/every plan - a faster day, a medium mid week run, and a long run, and running everything else easy. My only question would be, 10x880 (or 800) @5k seems awfully tough. For me anyway, that might wipe me out for longer than 2 days. Maybe not, I've never tried it, but a recent 10x400 at 3k was brutal enough. If it were me, I might swap that workout for a solid tempo workout - 4 to 6 at faster than HMP. I'm no coach though.

MTA: congrats on sub 20, and good luck with sub 90.

MTA2: now that I think about it, I guess 4 miles at 5k with breaks or 4-6 at "faster than HMP" probably not a big difference.

Come all you no-hopers, you jokers and roguesWe're on the road to nowhere, let's find out where it goes

Thanks for the note back Kevin. I agree with you about the intervals and with your related "mta2".

My other more specific thoughts were whether to target higher mileage (as I'm already at 35-40 mpw), and if one hard day per week is sufficient, or would it be helpful to add another tempo run in on odd weeks.

I will adapt this plan a little (enable a few more rest days and a couple 5k races), but essentially follow up to 45 miles (maybe 50), long runs of ~15 miles, and one hard workout per week (unless there is a strong suggestion to the contrary).

Based on my 5k race last night (19:35) a couple of on line predictor/calculators show me at 1:30:30. So count me in, I'll probably aim for Princeton (Nov 4) unless I can find something more suitable.

My training post-stress fracture is going well. I have been doing track workouts on Tuesday mornings and have gotten long runs up to 16 miles.

It looks like it is paying off too. I ran a solid 18:27 5k over the weekend on a hilly course (new PR!)

Overall mileage is a little low last week and this week due to the 5k on Sat and a mile race coming up Thursday night. Once I am through those I am going to try to increase my weekly mileage up to around 50 until my half in October.